Superduty spring swap thread

[KRob]

Thanks Ryan,

You know a awful lot.

Any idea what search terms on CL you used to find the springs i have been trying to find them but im getting no where.

Alright sounds like when i get to it ill just have to play a little. If the 2in leveling springs, im assuming coming of a 4x4, will keep it about stock hight i may not have to screw with the rear end. I'm just kicking it around because i haven't even seen my bump yet...the joy of being in the service.

Once again thanks alot and one of these days im going to need to call and pick your brain about your cummins conversion.

Rob

[Alfred Lord Tenniscourt]

Rob, have you worked on your springs yet? I have been watching this thread with a lot of interest because the front springs on my bump are totally bagged out, and since I run a plow in the winter, the front end is getting beat up really badly.
I am looking for a way to get the old girl back to stock ride height, and maybe stiffen the front end up a little for the plow, and this seems like a good way to get newer, more solid springs on the cheap.
What do you guys think? Will a set of slightly used SD springs do the trick?
Maybe I could use a set of stock SD springs stacked with a couple of my old leafs like Ryan's first attempt?
Thanks for the great thread. I feel like I have some idea where to start now!


- Mike

[71PA_Highboy]

Just an FYI... The rear eye bushing is 18mm.... it is hard to finad a bolt the size you need, but it is an 18mm with 110mm shoulder length. This ensures the shackles are not riding on the threads...

So far I have had no luck, but I am still looking.

If anyone finds a source, please let everyone know....

[averagef250]

Just an FYI... The rear eye bushing is 18mm.... it is hard to finad a bolt the size you need, but it is an 18mm with 110mm shoulder length. This ensures the shcakles are not riding on the threads...

So far I have had no luck, but I am still looking.

If anyone finds a source, please let everyone know....

I figured most people just turned a bushing to fit the stock 9/16" bolts. A few minutes of lathe work.

If you need the correct 18mm bolt you can buy them from Ford.

[71PA_Highboy]

Another issue I have found is the superduty rear eye bushing is too wide for the shackles to be square. I had to grind down the inner sleeve to match the width of the upper shackle mount.

The shackles I am using at 5.25" center to center holes and it looks like it will work well. The upper, inner passengers side shackle has to be trimmed a bit to clear the crossmember.

I am uing 3/8 x 1.5 CRS for the shackle arms.

Edit: I stopped by the Ford dealer today... they do not sell an 18mm bolt for the shackle/eye - appeard to be 11/16 (17mm) and was sloppy.. still on the hunt.

Next stop McMaster-Carr but the problem is going to derermint the shoulder length...

[KRob]

Alfred, No i havent gotten started...i just got home, and finally saw the truk for the first time a couple of days ago so hopefully here in the next 6 months i will get around to it.

I was thinking about what your using your truck for and what might be a good idea for you to do in your case is insead of using the lighter V8 equipmed trucks springs use the V10s or Diesel trucks....now i dont know if there is any truth in my logic but it may be worth looking into.

Rob

[nastys toys]

I used 18mm bolts I got offline I believe they were 160 or 180 mm bolt length I need longer bolts for the rear shackles I believe I used 3/8" stock for them

[smokey3215]

k rob the SD dident have a lighter spring for the v8s and diesel they were all the same.

[nastys toys]

just curious but if they didn't have different spring rates from factory wouldn't the diesels sag compaired to thegas versions? asking because when i got my sjkyjacker kit they said there springs are different rates for the diesels

[koch68]

Maybe I missed it but what springs did you use on the back and did you consider a shackle flip?

[KRob]

I cant remember but i thought i read that earlier that there are different types of springs...but that was months ago. And using the comman sense test it would make sense to have different springs.

[mikejc]

wherever i have looked at superduty springs gas/diesel were specified

[averagef250]

Different spring rate gas/diesel for the superduties. The Triton's are a heavy lug of iron, but the 7.3 and 6.0 weigh a few hundred more.